ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- Dominic Raiola waited his whole career for a game like this Sunday's in Green Bay when the Detroit Lions will be playing for the NFC North Division title in the regular-season finale.
But now because of a stupid incident in the Lions' last game, Raiola won't be able to play.
The NFL suspended him Monday for one game without pay "for a violation of safety-related playing rules" after Raiola was caught on camera stepping on the leg of a Chicago player the previous day.
They call him "Dom," but this was dumb.
It is Raiola's sixth safety-related rules violation since 2010, according to the league.
The NFL announced his latest discipline in a news release that read in part:
"In the third quarter of Sunday's game, Raiola stomped on the leg of Bears defensive tackle Ego Ferguson at the conclusion of a play, violating Rule 12, Section 2, Article 12 (b) of the NFL rule book prohibiting kicking or kneeing an opponent."
The suspension was imposed by former NFL player Merton Hanks, the league's vice president of football operations.
Raiola, who is expected to appeal the suspension, will be reinstated on December 29, in time for the playoffs.
As of now, he will not be allowed to have any contact whatsoever with team personnel this week except to arrange off-site medical treatment or rehabilitation. He's also not allowed to attend Sunday's game.
Lions coach Jim Caldwell reviewed the incident closely, just like the NFL did.
Caldwell said he was standing by his player's word that the action, regardless of how it appeared, was unintentional.
"I took a good look at it," Caldwell said Monday during his weekly news conference before the suspension became official. "I looked at both the coaches' copy and the television copy. I believe what Dom told me, that it was inadvertent.
"But I can also see why it's being reviewed by the league and everybody's taking a real good look at it. You can also see the other side of that as well.
"We'll deal with the issues after there's been some determination."
Raiola, who has started 99 consecutive games, insisted to reporters afterward that it was not intentional, but others have seen it much differently, including FOX rules analyst Mike Pereira.
Pereira said he thought the contact, which came after the whistle and wasn't penalized at the time, was made "on purpose" and, therefore, a suspension was likely.
The incident was not much different than three years ago when teammate Ndamukong Suh got suspended two games for stomping on a Green Bay player.
Asked about the possibility of not having Raiola for the final game, Caldwell said, "We'll adjust. Just like we've done the rest of the year. We've had significant injury. We've had significant setbacks. The guys find a way."
Rookie Travis Swanson, a third-round draft pick from Arkansas, probably will start at center in Raiola's absence.
"We have options," Caldwell said. "He's one of those options. He's a guy that's played, understands it. He's got some snaps under his belt."
Swanson filled in at right guard for three games because of an injury to starter Larry Warford, but he played center extensively in college.
The problem is that experience is so important at that position because the center is in charge of making the calls for the entire offensive line.
The coaching staff has praised Raiola frequently throughout the season for his leadership on the field and in the locker room.
"It's one of those things where you can't replace experience," Caldwell admitted. "Nevertheless, youth and vitality, we hope, will be able to offset some of that. You certainly can't offset all of that."
Caldwell said he talked with Raiola Monday morning. The coach, however, wouldn't reveal any details from their conversation other than to say of Raiola, "Just like any anything else that's a tough situation to deal with, you're not feeling real good."
